ISKCON, Mayapur celebrates Ratha Yatra using digital innovation not to spread Covid-19

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the apex court is only considering conducting the yatra in Puri and not anywhere else in Odisha.

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 23 JUNE: The Ratha Yatra of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Mayapur went digital for the first time due to the cause of Covid-19 pandemic.

Iskcon, Mayapur launched a unique initiative to celebrate the occasion with the worldwide community of devotees using digital innovation. Named as ‘Mercy on Wheels’, the digital yatra will cover six continents in 24 hours on June 23 and June 24.

“This was the world’s first digital Rath Yatra which covered six continents in 24 hours. It has been named ‘Mercy on Wheels’. There were 108 rathas,” said Subroto Das, spokesperson of Iskcon, Mayapur.

This comes at a time when the iconic Rath Yatra at Puri in Odisha was allowed on condition of few serious points by the Supreme Court because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Puri Rath Yatra was last held up nearly three centuries ago when Mohammed Taqi Khan, deputy governor of Odisha, attacked the Jagannath temple, forcing the shifting of the idols to Ganjam district.

As part of arrangements, the authorities have opened an online portal where devotees, who wish to be a part of the yatra, will have to register themselves, following which they will receive a code.

A total of 108 Iskcon community leaders had taken charge of pulling the e-rathas, bringing the Lord into the houses of devotees all over the world. Each ratha had taken with its 200 devotees.

The celebrations began at 8 am with the Pau- handi celebrations, a ritual marking the beginning of the Rath Yatra. After initial celebrations were over within 90 minutes, the temple management addressed and welcomed devotees.

The yatra began at 10 am and continued till 7.30 am the next day covering six continents.

Devotees who were unable to book their slots had the opportunity to view the entire process on digital media.

Ending days of uncertainty, the Supreme Court Monday modified its earlier order, and allowed the conduct of the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. But its order has several conditions from curfew timing to number of people who can pull the chariot, from social distancing norms to record keeping of those who will participate in the annual religious ritual this year.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP vice president Baijayant Jay Panda on Monday expressed happiness over the Supreme Court's nod to annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri.
“It is a matter of great happiness that Rath Yatra has been allowed. There were difficulties due to coronavirus. The Centre and the state government will ensure that all guidelines will be followed,” Pradhan told reporters.

Panda said that the apex court's decision today to permit annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri has come as a huge relief for 45 million Odiyas and millions of other devotees around the world.
“The state government's contention in the earlier Supreme Court ruling that public health could not be assured was always odd because just a few weeks ago, the state government has organised thousands of people to sing the anthem with social distancing. The Rath Yatra can also be done with same measures,” he said.
“I am thankful to my colleague Sambit Patra who was among those who filed a review petition in the Supreme Court which has permitted Rath Yatra only at its main site in Puri Infront Jagannath Temple and nowhere else,” the BJP leader said.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the apex court is only considering conducting the yatra in Puri and not anywhere else in Odisha.

The Supreme Court, while disposing of the pleas filed in the matter, noted that the State can stop the yatra or festivities if they feel it is going out of hand and added that it was aware of the situation and has passed the order accordingly.